Nitish Rana Eyes Delhi Comeback After Disappointing Uttar Pradesh Spell

Nitish Rana Set for Delhi Return After Uttar Pradesh Stint

Nitish Rana, the 31-year-old cricketer, is poised to rejoin Delhi for the upcoming domestic season, two years after his move to Uttar Pradesh.

Nitish Rana pictured playing for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

According to TimesofIndia.com, Rana's childhood coach, Sanjay Bharadwaj, revealed, "Apna ghar toh apna hi hota hai (Nothing comes close to your home)." Bharadwaj confirmed Rana's return, stating, "Yes, he will be playing for Delhi this season. I had asked him not to move out then also. He didn't have a great season with Uttar Pradesh. As a professional cricketer, you have too much pressure."

Bharadwaj emphasized the wisdom of Rana's decision, noting that Delhi is where he developed as a cricketer, even earning his first India call-up while representing the state.

Nitish Rana praising Starc's bowling skills.

Rana's 2024-25 domestic season with Uttar Pradesh was largely disappointing. He only scored 111 runs in nine matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. After managing just 17 runs in two Vijay Hazare Trophy List A matches, he was dropped. Furthermore, he was removed from the Ranji Trophy team following a series of low scores, accumulating just 150 runs in four games.

While his return to Delhi doesn't assure him a spot in the team, he will participate in the second season of the Delhi Premier League (DPL), which will feature eight teams this time.

A source familiar with the situation stated, "This is not a dump station. When he asked for the No Objection Certificate (NOC) in 2023, we had requested him to stay and play for Delhi." The source added, "He will have to earn his spot. There is no guarantee that he will get a chance right away."

In IPL 2025, Rana had a forgettable season with the Rajasthan Royals, scoring only 217 runs in 11 outings after being bought for a significant Rs 4.20 crore.

His reintegration into the Delhi unit will be something to watch, especially considering his past altercation with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarterfinals last year. The umpires had to intervene when the two players faced off during the heated exchange.